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Biden To Be Sworn In . . . As Senator

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:04:46 PM EST
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Given the Blago Farce, it is a shame that Obama did not keep his seat the way way Clinton and Biden did:

The seats of Illinois and Minnesota are totally up for grabs. Senators from New York and Colorado have one foot out of the Capitol, and the identity of the new New Yorker remains a mystery. To top it off, the incoming vice president is to be sworn in as a senator Tuesday though he will be departing later this month to put on his new executive branch hat, which he will wear while occasionally presiding over the chamber.

So Vice President-Elect Biden will remain Senator Biden for a few more weeks. Too bad the same is not true for President-Elect Obama. But hindsight is, as they say, 20-20.

Speaking for me only

< Saturday Open Thread | MN-Sen: Franken By 225 After Rejected Absentee Ballot Count >

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    Biden To Be Sworn In . . . As Senator | 26 comments (26 topical)

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    I got it (5.00 / 6) (#7)
    by ruffian on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:21:45 PM EST
    Are we really sure Cheney is actually going to give up the vice-presidency? I guess I would keep my day job too if I were depending on that happening.

    What is the reasoning here? (none / 0) (#1)
    by ruffian on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:09:31 PM EST
    I thought his replacement had already been named. Why is he not being sworn in?

    You didn't see the stories? Great stuff (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Cream City on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 04:37:40 PM EST
    having to do with ensuring that the new gov of Delaware gets to appoint Biden's replacement.  The new gov will be sworn in at 12:01 a.m. on January 20, then will make the appointment, then Biden will resign the Senate to be sworn in as VP hours later.

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    Good question (none / 0) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:14:34 PM EST
    No idea.

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    I can see why Hillary is keeping her seat (none / 0) (#3)
    by ruffian on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:17:41 PM EST
    until she is confirmed as SOS, but what the heck is Biden worried about? I guess there is a chance he could mouth off between now and the 20th!

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    He's a good parliamentarian (none / 0) (#23)
    by Salo on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 06:31:03 PM EST
    Never resign a seat of power til the very last second

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    He's probably not concerned... (none / 0) (#26)
    by Jerrymcl89 on Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 03:17:39 PM EST
    ... about his replacement's seniority (as some of the other departing Senators may be) since the guy is just a placeholder until Biden's son runs for the seat.

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    Biden is a dopey ideologue (none / 0) (#22)
    by Salo on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 06:28:31 PM EST
    Good parliamentarian

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    Vanity (none / 0) (#4)
    by andgarden on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:17:51 PM EST
    Also, Biden isn't rich. I think resigning earlier might have cost him some money.

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    That makes sense (none / 0) (#6)
    by ruffian on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:20:29 PM EST
    A couple of months worth of pay isn't chump change.

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    Wonder if it's a pension issue ... (none / 0) (#8)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:34:23 PM EST
    he's been in the Senate 25 years.  Maybe some added benefits kick-in if you top that number even by a few weeks.

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    Could be (none / 0) (#9)
    by andgarden on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:35:37 PM EST
    Dunno.

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    Wouldn't begrudge him ... (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 04:00:07 PM EST
    any benefits he could get.

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    He hasn't gotten rich off of his service (none / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 04:10:49 PM EST
    so yeah.

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    Biden has been a Senator for 36 years. (none / 0) (#11)
    by tigercourse on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 04:09:15 PM EST


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    Aren't you on vacation in (none / 0) (#13)
    by befuddledvoter on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 04:33:32 PM EST
    Miami, Andgarden??  Are you on the beach with your laptop??  I am so jealous. it is freezing in Boston.

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    Yeah, well (none / 0) (#15)
    by andgarden on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 04:55:59 PM EST
    I finished my book on bananas, so. . .

    Really, it's beautiful down here. Perfect week.

    I would be jealous of me if I were in Boston, and I will be jealous of me next week when I'm back in New York.

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    All the new kids start together? (none / 0) (#5)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 03:17:53 PM EST
    I can see the reasoning for Hillary to wait, Biden not so much aside from keeping him in place as sort of hands on vs VP in waiting?

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    O/T: Franken is kicking a*** in absentees (none / 0) (#16)
    by magster on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 05:34:42 PM EST
    His lead is about 200 now with 250 left to count.

    Looks like a little more than 150 (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by andgarden on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 05:41:53 PM EST
    Nevertheless, this seems about over. I have to wonder if, at some point, Norm will concede.

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    Or, um, you're right (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 05:43:19 PM EST
    I should have looked at the spreadsheet.

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    233 lead after count done (none / 0) (#19)
    by magster on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 05:46:12 PM EST
    Now each side is looking for challenges.

    233 is enough cushion for duplicate allegation (100 or so), missing ballots where they went back to election night tabulation (46).  IMO, this gives the Senate much more political cover to seat Franken provisionally.  They should open Coleman's 645 ballots in camera to see if his election challenge is moot.

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    Correction: 223 (none / 0) (#20)
    by magster on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 05:48:57 PM EST


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    Coleman's request to the state court (none / 0) (#21)
    by Cream City on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 05:49:44 PM EST
    has not had a reply yet, about the different processes followed by different counties and more.

    Awaiting that would be wise -- and calling for provisional seating was unwise of Klobuchar.  She just may need some of those votes from the other half of Minnesota that voted for Coleman (why, I can't imagine, but they did).

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    caretaker here (none / 0) (#24)
    by diogenes on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 09:56:03 PM EST
    Doesn't matter if Biden's replacement has less seniority because he's a caretaker; I'm sure Obama was hoping that the Illinois senator would be a long-term who would benefit from a head-start in the seniority battle.

    Yep, 'til Biden's son returns (none / 0) (#25)
    by Cream City on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 10:07:15 PM EST
    from Iraq.  The Senate needs someone named Beau.

    Parent
    Biden To Be Sworn In . . . As Senator | 26 comments (26 topical)

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